W.I.P: Untitled Werewolf Story

“No ma’am… The coupon you’ve given me is past its expiration date.” Waylon droned, staring across the register at the middle-aged blonde woman. “I can’t honor that.” He tensed, awaiting the verbal backlash that usually came in response.

“Oh.’’ The woman blinked, looking down at the coupon in his hands. “You’re sure it’s expired? I could have sworn that it was up to date.”

Waylon was taken aback by her response. “Oh.” He checked the coupon again. “Yeah. This coupon expired in October of 2023. Four months ago.” He put the coupon next to his register.

“Huh… Hold on a second.” The woman frowned and opened her purse. “I definitely have a newer version. Ugh… I could have sworn it was in here.”

Waylon frowned. She was a bit more understanding than others. He could only hope this wasn’t a plot to soften him up and make him give her the discount anyway. He looked around the store. There were about ten or so other people in the shop. And they were all gathered at the end of one of the aisle’s chattering amongst themselves.

“Aha!”

Waylon turned his attention back up to the woman at his register as she pulled a coupon out of her bag. “Oh!” He reaches to take it as she offers it, and takes a look at it. “Oh! Wow. You’re right. This is a good coupon.” He quickly scanned it. “Okay. So with the coupon, your total comes to an even nineteen dollars.”

The woman winked at him, “Always carry coupons, sonny. You never know when you may need em.” She swiped her card in the card reader, and Waylon approved her transaction.

“Okay, ma’am.” He bagged her purchases, then handed the bag to her. “Have a good…”

The muttering of the gathered customers distracted him, and he looked over toward the aisles again. The customers had gathered near the end of the aisle near his register.

Curious. Waylon tilted his head as he looked at them. They all seemed to be looking at something down the aisle. He couldn’t really see down the aisle from where he was. Maybe if he…

“Jumpin’ Juneberries…”Waylon’s eyes widened as a large lumbering creature made its way down the aisle. From where Waylon was, he had to assume it was eight feet tall, as the tips of its ears brushed against the hanging aisle sign as it walked below. The creature’s fur was a dark gray, and it covered its entire body, as far as Waylon could see. Shreds of what had to have been a white button down shirt, still hung loosely off of its thick muscular arms. He also caught that the wolf-like creature was wearing the Hickory Jack’s store-brand extra large swim trunks round its waist.

It’s eyes and muzzle were pointed at the ground as it made its way down the aisle. The small crowd parted for it, and it came right to Waylon’s register, putting down the contents of its arms. “Evenin’”

“Evenin there… Sir, is it?”

The wolf creature’s head tilted up, and his eyes met Waylon’s. “Yup…”

Waylon looked down at the conveyer belt and started scanning the items. He started scanning three wrapped sub sandwiches, a bag of green apples, and six cute kitten calendars. His eyes kept darting up at the massive creature before him. “So… Rough night?”

“You could say that…” He reached over the conveyer belt and picked up a pack of gum, bringing it close to his face. “Need my damn glasses…” He grumbled, then tossed it onto the conveyor belt.

“Not how you wanted to spend a Monday night?” Waylon pursed his lips as he scanned the second of the six calendars.

“You’re damn right!” The wolf growled, reaching for the pockets of his store brand swim trunks. “Did you know tonight was a full moon?” He grunted as he, with much difficulty, fished his wallet out. The trunks looked tight, and the poor guy looked extremely uncomfortable

Waylon slowed his scanning and looked up at the wolf. “Um… No sir.”

“Neither did I!” The wolf threw his arms up in the air. “Like how am I supposed to remember every fucking full moon off the top of my head.” He immediately lowered his paws, and his ears fell flat on his head as he looked around. “Sorry!” He called to any nearby onlooker that was actually listening. Then he turned back to Waylon. “Sorry.”